Someone has to decide. We make sure that someone knows the person.
AGS is appointed by the Summit County Probate Court as guardian of the person for indigent adults who live in the community — skilled nursing, assisted living, group homes, and similar settings — and who have no family member or friend able to serve.
Guardianship of the person is not caregiving, and it is not money management. AGS guardians do not handle the person's finances, do not pay the person’s bills, and do not provide daily care. They are the legal decision-maker for the decisions that shape a life.
What a guardian actually does
• Consent to, or refuse, medical and behavioral health treatment.
• Decide where the person lives, and whether that place is still safe.
• Choose and oversee the services around them.
• Visit, notice what has changed, and speak up when care is not good enough.
• File the reports the Court requires, so the appointment stays accountable.
Some people need a steady volunteer who will visit, learn their preferences, and handle routine decisions. Others need a professional guardian because of complex medical, behavioral, or placement problems. AGS uses both. The Court decides the appointment. We match the level of support to the person.
What guardianship is not
It is not a substitute for family when family is willing and able. It is not a way to control a relative’s money. It is a last-resort legal role, used when a person cannot protect themselves and no one else can be appointed. Families who are seeking guardianship of their own relative should start with the Probate Court, not with AGS. We keep a plain-language guide on Resources for Families.
The people we serve rarely have anyone else to tell their story. Public support is how Summit County keeps an advocate in the room.